A 2004 study found that when we offer our bodies sweet diet drinks but give them no calories, they crave real sugar even more.

LOW SODIUM

Many think the majority of salt intake comes from a salt shaker. In fact, about 75 percent of dietary sodium actually comes from eating packaged and restaurant food.

Food labels that advertise lower sodium are a good way to help people make more healthful choices. But after that, what we think those labels mean gets a bit fuzzy, according to a 2013 study.

Researchers at the University of Toronto asked 506 Canadians about a fake tomato soup can with various label claims. They found that any claim made about sodium, preventing disease or lowering blood pressure made the product more appealing.

When asked about a variety of health issues, including losing weight, constipation, and diabetes, participants in the survey said that lower-sodium products would prevent all of them. But reducing sodium only helps to reduce blood pressure.

LOW FAT

Reports came out in the late 1980s identifying dietary fat as the single most important change that needed to be made in order to improve diet and health.

And so, in the late 1990s, low-fat diets swept the nation. What was left unrealized was that many of these foods contained the same amount of calories and other additives.

Low-fat foods are often full of sugars and preservatives, and sometimes contain even more sugar than a full-fat version.

Nutrition experts believe high levels of sugar contribute not just to rising levels of obesity, but also other health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, dental cavities and cancer.

The results showed that adults who had one or more diet drink a day were 2.9 times more likely to develop dementia and 3 times more at risk of strokes compared to those who virtually none at all.

Matthew Pase, senior fellow in the department of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, said: 'Our study shows a need to put more research into this area given how often people drink artificially sweetened beverages.

'Although we did not find an association between stroke or dementia and the consumption of sugary drinks, this certainly does not mean they are a healthy option.

'We recommend that people drink water on a regular basis instead of sugary or artificially sweetened beverages.'

Even if someone is three times as likely to develop stroke or dementia, it is by no means a certain fate.

'In our study, 3 percent of the people had a new stroke and 5 percent developed dementia, so we're still talking about a small number of people developing either stroke or dementia.'

Rachel Johnson, past chairwoman of the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee and professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont, said: 'We know that limiting added sugars is an important strategy to support good nutrition and healthy body weights, and until we know more, people should use artificially sweetened drinks cautiously.

'They may have a role for people with diabetes and in weight loss, but we encourage people to drink water, low-fat milk or other beverages without added sweeteners.'

The researchers are still not sure whether diet drinks are causing strokes or dementia – or whether those who consume them are at higher risk anyway.

Previous studies have shown they tend to be consumed by adults who are already overweight or obese.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'As people are becoming more aware of the consequences of a high-sugar diet, many are turning to artificially-sweetened diet fizzy drinks as an alternative to those with lots of sugar.

'This interesting new study has pointed to higher rates of dementia in people who drink more artificially-sweetened drinks, but it doesn't show that these drinks are the cause of this altered risk.

'Future studies will need to confirm these findings in other groups of people, and explore what might be underlying any link between artificially-sweetened soft drinks and dementia.'

But Gavin Partington, director-general of the British Soft Drinks Association, the industry body said: 'Despite their claims, the authors of this observational study admit they found no cause and effect and provide no science-based evidence whatsoever to support their theories.

'In fact, based on the evidence, Public Health England is actively encouraging food and drink companies to use low-calorie sweeteners as an alternative to sugar and help people manage their weight.

'Surely we should be trying to help consumers reduce their calorie intake, not presenting unproven claims?'